Pharmacy Technician Registration

PURPOSE: This rule defines the requirements for pharmacy technician registration. (1) A pharmacy technician is defined as any person who assumes a supportive role under the direct supervision and responsibility of a pharmacist and who is utilized according to written standards of the employer or the pharmacistin-charge to perform routine functions that do not require the use of professional judgement in connection with the receiving, preparing, compounding, distribution, or dispensing of medications. (A) No person shall assume the role of a pharmacy technician without first registering with the board in accordance with the requirements in section 338.013, RSMo and this rule. Nothing AND INSURANCE in this rule shall preclude the use of persons as pharmacy technicians on a temporary basis as long as the individual(s) is registered as or has applied to the board for registration as a technician in accordance with 338.013.1 and .2, RSMo. (B) A person may be employed as a technician once a completed application and the required fee is received by the board. The board will provide either a registration certificate that shall be conspicuously displayed or a letter of disqualification preventing the applicant’s employment within a pharmacy. (C) Information required on the application shall include, but is not limited to— 1. The name, phone number, and residential address of the applicant; 2. Full-time and part-time addresses where the applicant will be employed as a technician; 3. Information concerning the applicant’s compliance with state and federal laws, as well as any violations that could be considered grounds for discipline as outlined in section 338.013.5, RSMo; 4. One (1) two-inch by two-inch (2" × 2") frontal view portrait photograph of applicant; and 5. Proof of fingerprinting as required by 20 CSR 2220-2.450. (D) A copy of the application must be maintained by the applicant at the site(s) of employment during and until notice of registration or disqualification is received by the applicant and must be readily retrievable for review by the board of pharmacy or the board’s representatives. (2) Registered technicians as well as applicants for registration as a technician are responsible for informing the board in the case of a changed residential address. Any mail or communications returned to the board office marked unknown, incorrect address, and the like will not be mailed a second time until the correct address is provided. (3) Registered technicians as well as applicants for registration as a technician shall inform the executive director of the board of any change in their employment address. The notification of an employment change must be provided in writing to the board no later than fifteen (15) days following the effective date of the change. (4) Any person whose name appears on the board of pharmacy employment disqualification list shall be barred from employment as a pharmacy technician except as provided in section (5) of this rule. (A) Information on the disqualification list shall include, at a minimum, the name and last known residential address of the person disqualified, as well as any previous registration number, the date on which the person’s name was entered on the list and the date at which time the person will again become eligible for employment in a pharmacy. The board may place a person on the disqualification list for an indefinite period of time if the disqualified person fails to maintain a current mailing address with the board or fails to communicate with the board on a timely basis when contacted in writing by the board. (B) Once the board has made a determination to place a person’s name on the disqualification list, the board shall notify the person in writing by mailing the notification to the person’s last known address. The disqualification notice shall include: 1. The name, address of residence and, if already registered as a technician, the registration number; 2. The reasons for being placed on the disqualification list; 3. The consequences of the person’s name appearing on the list; 4. The time period of disqualification; 5. Any alternative restrictions or provisions for conditional employment, if provided by the board; and 6. The right to appeal the decision of the board as provided in Chapter 621, RSMo. (5) Any person whose name appears on the disqualification list may be employed as a pharmacy technician subject to any restrictions or conditions ordered by the board. As an alternative to barring an individual from employment in a pharmacy, the board may consider restricted forms of employment or employment under special conditions for any person who has applied for or holds a registration as a pharmacy technician. Special conditions may include participation in the board’s Well-Being Program, as provided in 20 CSR 2220-2.175. Any registered technician subject to restrictions or conditions who violates any portion of the restrictions or conditions may be further restricted in employment or have additional conditions placed on their registration. The board may also implement full disqualification on a registrant who has violated any restrictions or conditions. (6) The letter of notice of intent to disqualify and the disqualification list shall be considered an open record of the board as well as any notice of appeal or litigation that pertains to the disqualification and/or conditional registration as a pharmacy technician. AUTHORITY: sections 338.013 and 338.380, RSMo Supp. 2009, and section 338.140, RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 220-2.700. Original rule filed Aug. 21, 1998, effective Feb. 28, 1999. Amended: Filed Nov. 13, 2002, effective June 30, 2003. Moved to 20 CSR 2220-2.700, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Aug. 18, 2009, effective March 30, 2010. ** *Original authority: 338.013, RSMo 1997, 2004, 2009; 338.140, RSMo 1939, amended 1981, 1989, 1997; and 338.380, RSMo 2007. **Pursuant to Executive Order 21-09, 20 CSR 2220-2.700, section (1) was suspended from March 20, 2020 through December 31, 2021.